So three years ago I finally got a decent apartment in a decent building in a neighborhood I like with 4 Mcdonald’s, two Popeye’s, multiple laundromats, and a thousand grocery stores. But after three years I don’t have any friends in my building. Why? Because some of my neighbors are straight up nuts. And drug addicts. And shoplifters… you get the picture.

Good people live here, too? But how can I tell who’s decent from who’s not? Some of the biggest freaks seem friendly, until you find out they’re on crack. The first NYE that I spent here, a crackhead (everyone knew who it was) threw a crack party and set the building on fire. I spent midnight running down the stairs barely ahead of the water that had flooded the staircases, and the first floor lobby, and the computer room in the basement.

Let’s not talk about the time they destroyed the laundry room. I do my laundry elsewhere now, So much easier.

The police are here regularly. One tenant set fire to her apartment and flooded the hallway 3 times. How do you flood an apartment to the point where the floor underneath you has water flowing down the walls? Last week I found a crack vial on the stairs, and today came the cherry on top of this pile of neighborly doodoo- someone punched a hole in the safety glass in the lobby door. Why? Who cares.

Links à la Mode, July 21

Quite a bit of travel this week. Strolling a lesser known seaside of France. What to wear in Austin, Texas. How the Berliners show off their fashions. Where to enjoy a bite to eat in Barcelona. And a special message from Mount Fuji… Bring money for the bathroom!

IFB Bloggers are looking to trends like culottes, off the shoulder styles, and layering lace with floral patterns, but they haven’t forgotten their roots. Classics like denim, nude shoes, and midi dresses are essential.

Looking to brainstorm some ideas for your blogging business? Be sure to read up about 45 blog themes to choose from when you hit a block, tips to gleam from a first year blogging anniversary, and how to prepare for and attend an event. Also, a review on how to rent the runway, and a fun DIY!

So I get all excited because I’m going o an outdoor movie and getting out of the house where I hide from the heat and keep the shades down because my windows face east and the glare is stunning. Everything was fine, I had my lunch and snacks packed and the I noticed that it was getting dark and I drew up the shades and it was this. I nearly died.

There is nothing worse than an introvert who gears up to go out and is thwarted. Nothing.

The rain stopped and the sun came back out. I ended up going anyway, because I wanted to see The Triplets of Belleville and I wanted to see these particular people, because they’re fun and I was so bored. So I got my snacks together again and took off. When I got outside, it felt like it was even hotter than I’d expected, especially after a rainstorm. I walked to the park, thinking I knew exactly where I was going and ended up getting lost. I was texting and people were giving advice and I was still lost. Walking past people playing Pokemon Go and whatnot.

I found these curly, ribbon like sculptures by Carol Eisner scattered along my path. Stuff like this reminds me that I never get my stuff together enough to show artwork, and I really should be more disciplined and try harder, but then I think why since it feels like nobody cares, and then I remind myself that someone got this artwork into Prospect Park, and that I should maybe just think about it later.

After all that I ended up at the other end of the park, far away from the bandshell and on Eastern Parkway where I didn’t belong. This is Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn’s Arc de Triomphe. That’s Brooklyn for you.

Since I was at Grand Army Plaza, I walked over to Flatbush and went to buy a bottle of wine. I was going for a rose, but they were doing a tasting and I ended up with this Chardonnay. They also had absinthe, which I now know I don’t like. Live and learn. This food is fresh roast chicken breast over cracked bulgur wheat with roasted veggies and tomato scallion salad. I also had chips which I had bought to share, because these people are nice and actually share snacks and I wanted to reciprocate. I put my food, wine and snacks in front of the Chromebook, cranked up netflix and settled in. It wasn’t as much fun as going out but sometimes you just have to make do with what you have.

Links à la Mode, July 14

Cropped this, cropped that. Floral here, floral there. And off the shoulder everywhere. It seems that these three fashion design elements have become essential to just about every outfit this Summer. Will they continue into Fall?

IFB bloggers didn’t just stop there where trends are concerned. They also showed off fringe, flowy shorts, and chambray. Add in a few good color stories on red, black, and what happens when you combine red with stripes, and you have the making of a complete Summer trend guide right here on our own little Links à la Mode. Ever wonder what it’s like to come out from behind the scenes, compete in a pageant, shop for fashionable plus size looks, or blend perfume in Paris. Yep, we have that covered too. And don’t miss the fun tutorial on minimalist nails and a lesson in handbag buying–a fake is a fake is obviously a fake, or is it?

The weirdest thing happened! I literally opened the mailbox and there was a check inside. Someone started a class action suit against a former employer of mine and while I remembered getting paperwork about it, I hadn’t really taken in the fact that I would get money. I literally did nothing! However? It was a crap job, and I deserve restitution just for having been forced to work there because I was broke. I put half away and then gave myself permission to do the one thing I love above everything else (except eating… nothing beats that), I shopped. Online.

There is nothing like laying around naked with the ceiling fan working at just the right speed and a good cup of green tea to set you up for not leaving the house to spend money.

I got two cookbooks that I have been thinking about, At Elizabeth David’s Table and Martha Stewart’s Baking Handbook. I know everyone is having racial unrest right now, but these are good books and the recipes work. I bought a picture frame from Ikea, also long overdue, for a poster that featured a photograph I took. At the time, I got paid $50 and my name was on the posters and invitations for my school’s student fashion show. I bought a tshirt from my Society 6 store, I designed it and now I’m wearing it. I also bought this most awesome Ekouaer push up bra, which I had read about on The Cut, only $18! I bought 5 pairs of underpants and some hand weights from Target. I bought pillows from Ikea ($3.49!) and then realized that I love pillows and bought 3 more ($1.99). I was on fire.

I bought this caftan, too. I was just raging! I didn’t even spend it all! That was the best part. I had change left over. Huzzah!

I also went to see a movie, but I went to the matinee and only paid half-price? Which was good because it was only Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates. You can read my review here.

I still can’t believe the weird luck and great timing, because I needed to be frivolous. This has been a year of doing things differently and trying to craft a new path for myself, which can be difficult. This was the year of trying to find love and forge friendships, and that can be deadly. Finding out that some random guy stood up to a huge corporation and won on my behalf without even knowing me is like rain in the desert.